The process

Following the full distribution of preferences in the Division of Fairfax the margin between the two leading candidates was seven. As the margin was less than one hundred, the Divisional Returning Officer for Fairfax began a formal recount at the divisional counting centre in Maroochydore at 9:00am on Thursday 3 October.

The full recount involves a fresh look at every vote cast by voters for the Division of Fairfax in the 2013 Federal Election (more than 89,000). This includes votes cast by Fairfax voters at polling places within the division, at other voting centres throughout Australia and overseas, or by post.

First preferences

A count of all first preferences on House of Representatives ballot papers will be conducted first, including checking whether votes are formal or informal.

Any ballot paper which is identified as being in a pile of ballot papers for the wrong candidate will be transferred to the correct candidate's pile of ballot papers.

If the total number of ballot papers (including informal ballot papers) for a polling place or declaration scrutiny differs from the total at the previous count, the total will be re-checked again. If the total continues to differ from the total at the previous count, the Divisional Returning Officer (DRO) will accept the recount total.

Two candidate preferred count

A 'two-candidate-preferred' (TCP) count will then be conducted. A TCP count is indicative. Each ballot paper is sorted according to whichever candidate (of the two candidates in the TCP count) has the highest preference number. This results in all ballot papers being allocated to either Clive Palmer or Ted O'Brien to give a TCP count result.

Distribution of preferences

After the TCP count is complete staff will conduct a full distribution of preferences at the polling place level. This process involves moving the ballot papers from each excluded candidate, in the order in which they were excluded, to the ballot paper's next available preference. The final result of the distribution of preferences will match the TCP count for each polling place.

Scrutineers

Candidates are entitled to appoint people to act as scrutineers for the duration of the recount.

Challenged ballot papers

Initially, five teams of two AEC staff will open each parcel of ballot papers, and review all ballot papers.

Any ballot paper which has been incorrectly identified as formal or informal will be transferred to the correct pile.

If a Scrutineer challenges a ballot paper, the ballot paper will be referred to the DRO for a decision. After making his decision the DRO will annotate the back of the ballot paper with "admitted" or "rejected". He may reverse any previous decision to admit or reject a ballot paper.

At the request of a Scrutineer, the DRO's decision regarding a ballot paper will be referred to the Australian Electoral Officer (AEO) for Queensland for final decision on admission.

When a ballot paper is referred to the AEO, the DRO will stamp "referred for AEO decision" on the back of the ballot paper. The ballot paper(s) will be forwarded to the AEO in a sealed envelope and a photocopy kept at the Maroochydore Counting Centre with the relevant parcel.

In the presence of an Officer of the Australian Public Service, the AEO will open the envelopes of ballot papers sent to her and mark on the back of each ballot paper "admitted" or "rejected" according to her decision.

AEO consideration of ballot papers is subject to scrutineering. Candidates have been advised that the AEO will commence her consideration of challenged ballot papers from 9am on Tuesday 8 October 2013 at her office in Brisbane.

Once the AEO has made her determinations, the ballot papers will be returned to the DRO for re-inclusion in the relevant parcel of ballot papers.

Completion of the recount

Once the recount has been completed the DRO will set a date, time and location to formally declare the result of the election. This information will be communicated to the media when available.

The validity of the election of any member of parliament may only be disputed by a petition to the Court of Disputed Returns within 40 days of the return of the writ. Further information can be found in the Candidates Handbook